We are founders and members of a writing group that meets every Thursday.  The rules are simple.  Do first draft writing for one-hour then read to the group what you've just written. It can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, wherever your creativity takes you. After you have read your first draft writing, the other writers can give comments and encourage the writer by expressing what works best.

Specific, positive comments give the writer encouragement and more to work with when developing the piece later.  If someone says, "The image of the football worked for me," that is helpful.  If someone says, "That was nice," it is encouraging but not especially helpful. If you are in a writer's group, try to give details in your feedback that will let the writer know what is working.